Multiple libraries help

I had an ipod nano and when i tried to add an ipod shuffle it copied my nano's library over. How can I give the shuffle its own library?

Hi Stacy,
The best way to create just songs for your NANO is to create a Smart Playlist for it.
Select each song, individually, in the Library that you would like to have on your Nano, and once it is selected, go up to the File and select "Get Info"
Select the Info tab in the Get Info box for that song, and under Grouping type in NANO then click OK
Repeat this for each song you would like on your NANO
Next, Create a Smart Playlist by going to the File option and selecting "New Smart Playlist"
Make sure that the "Match the Following Rule" is checked, and in first box, select the down arrow until you find "Grouping" and select that
Leave "contains" as is
In the next box type in NANO
Uncheck the "Limit To" box
Leave "Live Updating" checked
Click OK
Now, hook up your NANO to your computer, and under the Music tab for the NANO, check "Sync Music", "Selected playlists, artists, albums, and, genres"
Below, under Playlists, check only your NANO playlist and then Sync
Couple of notes:
You can change the name of your smart playlist by just clicking on it in the Playlists section. When it highlights purple, type in whatever name you'd like
As you add new songs to your library, you can always add them to your NANO Smart Playlist by going to the Get Info option under File, and simply typing NANO into the Grouping section. This will cause it to automatically add it to your NANO playlist!
I know this seems like a long set of instructions, but in the long run it really saves time, and also keeps your music where you want it to be. Smart Playlists can be applied to any of your devices in a very large array of combinations!
I am no music expert as far as this stuff goes, but with two people sharing the same library and multiple devices, I have found that this method works great for me!
Hope it helps you too!
Cheers,
GB

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Itunes multiple libraries question, Help!!

first all thanks for any help that is provided....
my situation is this:
i have a MBP w/ an 80 gb HD. i have about 80-100 GB of videos and another 30GB of music that i would like to be able to store on my Apple tv and Ipod. i first tried using an external HD to store it all, but ITunes would change my music folder path on me.
so then i found out about multiple libraries, my question is this:
Can an ipod be synced to multiple libraries that are all on the same computer?
or anyone have any suggestions on how i can do this?

Hey acrahm,
The iPods that support Manually manage mode can sync with multiple libraries.
More information here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61675
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304447
Jason

HELP! - iTunes 7 Multiple Libraries - iTunes Music Folder Location

I've created two libraries with the new multiple libraries feature on iTunes 7, but it appears that there is no way to choose separate folder locations for each of the libraries. I tried to do this and ended up with all of my songs in one folder, which is what I don't want. I would like to have would like to have two libraries, one for regular music and one for Christmas music, and I would like to choose a separate location/folder for each library. I keep all of my music on an external hard drive - I don't have enough room on my internal hard drive. Does anyone know if there is a way to do this?

Shift key thing is cool. But I agree, why not let us switch while in program. Itunes Library manager seems to be a better bet still and keeps hard drive clean.
http://www.dougscripts.com/itunes/itinfo/ituneslibrarymanager.php
I use this to keep sound effects and music in two libraries and it works great.

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I am sure that my problem is common so hopefully this post will help other people solve similar problems. It may have been answered in other posts although nothing has popped out as a clear and concise way to solve how to deal with multiple libraries and duplicate pictures.
I have over the years created, edited and merged various iPhoto libraries. I now have such a mess of pictures and libraries I don't know what to do to organize them all. The smallest library is about 10GB, the largest about 45GB. I purchased iPhoto Library Manager and Duplicate Annihilator. I have attempted to merge some of the libraries but that didn't work that well. It created yet another library and more duplicates. I then (foolishly) attempted to drag and drop a library file and that created extra pics like thumbnails of the all the faces.
So is there an easier way that sifting thru about 30,000 images?
Do I deal with the duplicates in each separate library first, then merge and do it again. Or attempt a total merge, then scan for duplicates?
Another approach I thought about is to work directly with the originals in the library contents.
I am lucky that I haven't spent too much time with albums, books etc. There is some metadata (comments, maps and faces), but nothing to serious.

Try using a free tool, ExifRenamer (http://www.qdev.de/?location=mac/exifrenamer)
Do not use this tool on files inside of iPhoto Library. You can use the tool only with originals, in simple file format. So you probably need to export the files from iPhoto first before using the tool.
It renames photo/video file names to date/time they were taken. You'd drop a folder containing the files onto ExifRenamer icon, and the files will be renamed. Pretty simple. You can specify the format of file name and other settings to your preference first. Once the files are renamed, you'd drop them into folders based on year/quarter/month.
Basically you'd reorganize the files in this folder structure
2009_01
2009_02
2010_03
Or you could work with
2009-q1 (for Jan - March)
2009-q2 (for Apr - June)
As you are dropping the renamed files into their directories, you may be asked to overwrite files, which you should do.
Once you've renamed the files, you can reimport them into iPhoto Library. I recommend one iPhoto Library for 1 year. Maybe you could keep more years in 1 iPhoto Library. My personal preference is 1 iPhoto Library for 1 year.
Lastly, please make a good backup and test before proceeding. I recommend this.
-Let Time Machine run with iPhoto closed.
-Export all photos from iPhoto into a separate folder. This is for backup and not to be touched.
-Export all photos from iPhoto or duplicate the folder you created in previous step. Work with this folder when using ExifRenamer. Start working with small sets of files initially until you are comfortable.

Multiple Libraries on 1 computer?

Hi,
I was wondering is it possible to set up multiple libraries on one computer? For example if multiple family members using the same computer but w/ vastly different musical tastes all have iPods is there a way to set iTunes up where I wouldn't have to deal w/ all of my other family member's songs?

These links should help:
Natalie Beresford: Multiple iPods/iTunes Installations
How to use multiple iPods with one computer
How to share music between different accounts on a single computer

How can I create multiple libraries on a windows 8 HP computer?

I just got the newest generation Ipod Touch, and the itunes is not supported on my iMac G5. My parents have a Windows 8 HP computer. My dad's itunes account is on that computer. So what I want to do is use my external hardrive to sync it to my Windows 8 computer. I am trying to find out how to create multiple libraries.
Please help me out.

These all have drm so i cannot read them without a i-Device.
Correct. If you do not have an iOS device or a Mac running Mavericks, do not buy Apple iBooks. They will be unreadable.

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How can I create multiple libraries with the current version of iTunes? I want to add a library to a computer that already has one. Please help!

Go to System Preferences>Users and Groups and click on the padlock in lower left and enter admin PW to allow changes. Then click on the + sign in lower left and add a new user

Multiple libraries, Pbook/Pmac, advice for management & updating please.

Hi Everyone,
I travel frequently, and am looking for suggestions to keep all my iPhoto libraries up to date. I currently have a g5, Powerbook, and Mini.
I just upgraded to iPhoto 6 and I have several thousand photos on my Dual g5. I just came back with 1000 more from my diving trip. The problem is, they are on my Powerbook, and taking up alot of space on the relatively small hard drive. I managed to work through the rough upgrade from 5 to 6, and now I need some more help...
1) What is your advice for managing multiple libraries of photos.
2) What is the best way to transfer the iphoto pics (and movies) to my desktop, which of course has the larger storage capacity, after travelling...
Thanks,

Jason:
There are several different approaches to what you want to do. Let me just throw out a couple that I'm familiar with.
To get the new photos from your PB to your G5 and maintain any keywords, and other organization effort you put into them, you'll need the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager. It will allow you to merge libraries or copy between libraries and maintain the metadata, etc. That's the only way currently available to move photos from one library to another and keep the roll, keywords, comments, etc. with those photos. You can connect the two Macs with one in the Target Mode, probably your PB, and then run iPLM to move the photos to the G5 library.
Now there is a way to have a library on your PB that reflects the one on your G5 but is only a fraction of the size. That's to have an alias based library on your PB that uses the Originals folder as its source of source files. (My 25,600 files, 27G, are represented by an iPhoto Library folder of only 1.75G). When the PB is not connected with the G5, say with a LAN, it will have limited capabilities which are in part: you'll only be able to view the thumbnail files, be able to add comments, create, delete or move albums around, add keywords (but with some hassle-but it can be done). You can't do anything that requires moving thumbnails around, work with books, slideshows or calendars. Once the two computers are networked together again the library will act as normal.
Now while on the road you can have a "normal" library to import new full sized files, keyword them, add comments, etc. and then transfer to the G5 library. Once in the G5 library they will be represented in a roll(s) and corresponding folder in the Originals folder. You then fire up the "alias" library, and import those new folders in the G5 Originals folder.
It may be a lot of work but it may be one way of doing it.
I've not done any of the "sharing" with iPhoto so don't know if that's another possible candidate for transferring.
P.S. FWIW I've created this workflow for converting from a conventional library to an alias based one.

Multiple libraries, multiple instances, multiple preference sets

Hi everyone!
I know how to create multiple libraries, but does anyone know if it is possble to access through ONE instance of iTunes the multiple libraries created? If not, is it possible to run multiple instables of iTunes?
In any case, if it possible to have different preference sets for each library?
The reason I'm asking is that I find it really great to have multiple libraries so that one can have media on different drives/locations and better manage one's media. However, it's a real pain in the *** to have to quit iTunes, hold the Option key while starting iTunes, choose a library, and play whatever one wants to play.
Syncing with an iPod, too, is a pain, because I have to manually manage the iPod.
So until, iTunes does all this by itself, does anyone know of a solution?
Thanks.
PowerBook G4 17" Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Good thoughts, and maybe we'll get there someday. Already, Apple has made a complex business (managing a media library) impressively easy through iTunes, and it's steadily improved iTunes, too. Of course, the success that Apple has had in software ergonomics always leaves it in the position of having consumers say, "Well, if you can give us this, then why can't you give us that?"
At the same time, many--probably a large majority--of iTunes users do not discern the difference between the iTunes Library and the collection of music files the Library refers to. I'm sure Apple is concerned about confusing such users by adding the kind of complexity and power to iTunes that some of us could take advantage of. It's a tough balancing act.
(BTW, I think Apple should have chosen its iTunes terminology a little differently in order to help users more easily understand iTunes organization. Maybe the iTunes folder could have been called the iTunes Library folder, the iTunes Music Library file the iTunes Music Catalog, and the iTunes Music folder the iTunes Music Holdings folder, or something along those lines that makes for a closer analogy with a regular, physical library.)
I still think Apple could give you the feature you seem to be looking for by creating a new kind of preset...maybe call it Collections, or something like that... that would allow you to store different sets of preferences affecting Importing of new tunes--location, file format, etc. Then you could do what you want within one library.
Who knows? ...Hope you get what you want sometime soon!
iMac G4 17; iBook G4 1.33 Mhz 14; iPod 3G 20GB Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Creating multiple libraries and using an external drive for data

I'm a recent switcher and new to iphoto. On the windows platform, I used adobe album. I have a around 10k of images that I put on an external drive which is attached to my new imac. I deleted the iphoto folder and redirected it to my images on my external. All is working great. I'm looking for some advise on work flow of file/iphoto management. i.e. I'm assuming the more images I accumulate, the slower I photo is going to run? I hear you can create multiple iphoto libraries. Will that only load the photos that are associated with the library and I'm assuming optimize iphoto's performance versus always loading every photo you have taken every time you work in iphoto? If adding libraries is the way to go, can someone direct me to instruction on how to do this?
This may be beyond this threads scope but I plan to put all my data (iphoto, imovies, itunes) onto an external drive in order to keep the imac main drive as clean a possible. Is my thinking correct in doing so. Any negative repercussion in doing so?

Joe:
I'm assuming the more images I accumulate, the slower I photo is going to run?
You'll have to get quite a lot of photos into iPhoto before you start to see a real slowdown in performance. Users have reported libraries of 40K files and they perform just fine. However, do not keep all of rolls open as that will really do a job on the performance. Just open the rolls you need and close them all before quitting.
Yes, you can use multiple libraries and only load what's in each. I use iPhoto Library Manager to manage and move quickly between 10 libraries. With the paid version of iPLM you can move albums and/or rolls between libraries as needed and keep the keywords, ratings, and comments intact.
Using an external HD in order to maintain sufficient free space (10G minimum is what I recommend) on the boot drive to help optimize performance is a very good idea.
As far as any negative aspects, it would be a good idea to have a second external HD as a backup to the working external HD. You can't be too careful with those image files (and other important files) that can't be replaced.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Supposed support for Multiple Libraries in iTunes 7

Come on Apple, your website says iTunes 7 supports multiple libraries in multiple locations, yet there is no way to enable a second library or create additional libraries through iTunes. Is this just hype about the tedious manual workaround of not having iTunes copy everything to one location? When will we get true multiple libraries? This is sorely missing functionality for anyone with a harddrive smaller than 250GB.
Quoted from http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview/
"Multiple Libraries
Build your collection over multiple libraries, and keep them on different hard drives to save space."

I think there are a large number of us who are in the "for some reason" category: we want to have our libraries split across multiple HD's.
Here's my exact scenario:
I have a small portion of my library stored locally on my PowerBook for when I am on the road (~30GB). I have the bulk of my music collection stored on an external drive at home (~160GB). I have another set of tracks that are works in progress that my band is in the process of writing/recording, stored on a 2nd external drive at our studio (~10GB). I want to be able to plug in any of the external drives, and have access to that content whenever I am at home or at the studio, without having to change the local library stored on my PowerBook.
Consolidating the library does not help at all in this scenario - not only does the complete library not fit on my PB's hard drive, but I also don't want the reverse, which is to consolidate to one external drive which I'd then have to carry around everywhere. iTunes should be smart enough to recognize different library files concurrently, and store the import/organize settings per library. I guess that's too much to ask...

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Hi All
I need help to understand if the following is possible, and if so, how I can best go about getting this working.
I have all of my music on my server, which iTunes can see. Why I try and use Homeharing on my iPad it just takes too long to create the music library on the iPad (i waited about 3 minutes and gave up). Therefore I had an idea. Currently all of my music is in a library called My Music. What I was thinking was that if I could seperate the music out so that multiple libraries were available via Homesharing on the ipad i could choose a suitable library, and not have to wait to load the entire music library each time.
Therefore, I thought I'd start with an easy split - creat a library of music for my young daughter. That way she can have access to her music, and I never need to see it within my library. I 've gone into itunes to create a new library for her music, but the only way i can se to create a new library is to log on as a different usr in iTunes.
All i ultimately want is a solution whereby i can have multiple libraries available whenever we open up the Homesharing option in iPad / Ipod Music player app. Is this possible?

As of this morning I can't get Home Sharing to work on either of my iPhones. It gets stuck at 3/4ths the way through and I can watch my battery percentage drop in front of me. My phones get warm trying

Support for multiple libraries...?

Hi, I have a question as how is the best way to manage y music libraries given my usage scenario.
First let me set the context of what I have. I have over 35GB of ripped music, that resides in an external drive. Currently this music is available through my iTunes application, but it is NOT part of my lybrary (meaning I imported but did NOT copy it into the library). I do NOT want to have 35GB of music in my notebook's HD.
My iTunes library is in my local HD (music folder). This is a small file that basically has the 'podcasts' and the 'artwork'.
What do I want? I would love to keep all my music and videos on the external drive, and have my podcasts in my local HD. This way when I am on the road, I can update the podcasts, without having to carry with me all my music.
This all works fine the way I have it now, except that every time I rip a new CD or buy music from the iTunes Store, they go to my local HD and not my external drive.
Any ideas on how to work this out? I would love support for multiple libraries, but I don't thnks it's possible as far as I looked into it.
Thanks SO much!

This all works fine the way I have it now, except that every time I rip a new CD or buy music from the iTunes Store, they go to my local HD and not my external drive.
Set the 'iTunes Music folder location' (Preferences>Advanced>General) to the music folder on your external.
The next time you rip a CD or purchase music, it will be stored there.
Note: the 'iTunes Music folder location' is not the folder where your music is, but the location where iTunes stores imported music (and added music when 'Copy files to.....' is checked)
If you ran iTunes once with your external drive not attached/mounted, this location is reset to the internal drive.
iTunes 7 has support for multiple libraries. Press and hold the Option-key on launching iTunes until a window pops up which asks you to choose a library or create a new one.
Libra and iTunes Library Manager both work with iTunes 7 and older versions. They also save the preferences for every library you created.
Hope this helps.
M
17' iMac 800 MHz, 768 MB RAM, 200 GB HD, DL burner Mac OS X (10.4.8) iTunes 7.0.1

I got married,and my wife and I have multiple libraries with several iTunes id's how do we consolidate all of our music

how do we consolidate multiple libraries? My wife had 2 or 3 different apple id's she changed emails and forgot passwords. please help

Apparently, you cannot do that:
Set up your Apple ID for iCloud and iTunes - Apple Support
If you have made purchases using more than one ID, call Apple Support and state your case. I have heard that they may be able to do something to help you.
I do not know why Apple makes it so easy to create Apple IDs; they suggest creating them left and right, but make it very difficult to undo once a person realizes how bad it is to use multiple Apple IDs for the same purpose, for example, iTunes Store, or App Store purchases.

Cannot Use Multiple Libraries in ITunes 8.0

I'm trying to set up multiple libraries, one of lossless that runs of an external drive, one of compressed that runs off a portable drive. I'm in XP.
I have set up Itunes with the lossless files, and am now trying to startup Itunes with the shift key in order to have the option to create a new library. No dice. I hold shift then I double click on the Itunes icon on the desktop. I've also tried it from the programs menu and the start menu. On two different computers. Every time, it just loads the account already set up.
HELP!

To create or access a second (or more) library on a Mac, hold down the Option key when launching iTunes 7. In the resulting dialogue you will get the option to create a new library or navigate to the other Library.
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